Day 1

A Doll's House Lesson Plan

Discussion of Thought Questions

1

How does Torvald combine condescension and caring in his actions toward Nora?

(5 min)

Torvald calls Nora by pet names but they are all infantilizing - skylark, squirrel, singing-bird, etc. These animals are all fragile and silly, in need of protection. He also asks about her eating habits out of concern, but he has made rules about her consumption of sweets as though he were her parent rather than her husband.

2

How does Ibsen use stage directions to inform characterization?

(7-10 min)

Ibsen's stage directions often reveal a character's state of mind or inner life. For instance, Ibsen is very specific about how certain lines should be spoken. This is true of...

Kristina, a widow of a loveless marriage, has come to Nora to beg her husband for a job. She and Nils Krogstad shared a romance in the past, and she ended it to marry her late husband for a large sum of money. At the Helmers, Kristina becomes...

This play focuses on the ways that women are perceived in their various roles, especially in marriage and motherhood. Torvald, in particular, has a very clear but narrow definition of women's roles. He believes that it is the sacred duty of a...

It is Christmas Eve in the Helmer family's apartment, which is furnished “comfortably but not extravagantly.” Nora enters with parcels, leaving a porter at the door with a Christmas tree, which she tells a maid to hide so that her children will...